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Plastic Free July: A Comprehensive Guide
Summer is approaching, and many people are already planning their summer vacations. However, this summer, you should consider helping reduce plastic pollution in our ecosystem.
Plastic Free July would love it if you lent a hand to reduce plastic containers this summer. You are crucial to create a plastic-free environment for everyone.
You can spend your time enjoying the wonderful sunny weather. However, remember that your actions this summer can greatly impact the planet and its future. You can go plastic-free this summer and help decrease your carbon footprint.
What is the Plastic Free July Challenge?
The Plastic Free July Challenge is an annual global movement started by Plastic Free July, an organization that aims to reduce the number of plastic bags and containers in our ecosystem. The challenge encourages people to avoid using single-use plastics for the whole of July to reduce plastic pollution on Earth. The challenge has a record of over 320 million participants each year, and the number keeps rising.
The challenge is spreading the word about the dangers of single-use plastics and trying to end plastic pollution. The challenge encourages its participants to make small changes in their regular routines involving plastic.
The smallest change in usage can make a big difference. It doesn’t matter if you’re switching your bathroom essentials to be more eco-friendly or using skincare products made from plants; your efforts are key to reducing plastic pollution. Furthermore, the challenge provides people with tips and tricks on how to lend a helping hand in fighting plastic pollution and the problems it causes.
How to Participate in Plastic Free July
It is easy to participate in the plastic-free July challenge. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-timer or you’ve been participating over the years; all you have to do is tailor the challenge to suit you.
You can choose a week or two in July to spread awareness in your home, office, or place of education. Furthermore, you can also allocate the other weeks of July and select the areas of plastic packaging you want to tackle.
Once you’ve mapped out a plan for the month, you can go to their website and input your selections in their challenge form. When you’ve registered, you’ll join millions of others fighting to keep the planet green. Furthermore, you can start your quest for a healthier environment for yourself and your loved ones.
Working towards a plastic-free world is possible with your help. Although the movement is only held once a year, many participants have revealed that the challenge helped them start a new lifestyle that has led to cleaner streets.
Tips to Help You Embrace a Plastic Free July
Going plastic free can be overwhelming for the first time, especially if someone hasn’t done it before. It becomes significantly more challenging if you don’t have tips or tricks to help you maintain a no-plastic policy. Hence, this section will offer you simple ways you can leverage to make your plastic-free journey a pleasurable one.
If you are traveling in July you can also find some useful tips to create your eco-friendly travel kit following this link.
Reusable Coffee Cups
Instead of using regular disposable coffee cups, you can bring a reusable coffee cup to your favorite coffee shop. You can also bring a flask, which will reduce the number of plastic cups and lids they are selling.
For instance, if you drink coffee five times a day, bringing your reusable containers will prevent five plastic cups from being sold. Now multiply that number by the number of weeks in July. If you choose to make it your policy to bring reusable containers, you can increase that number by the number of weeks in a year.
The result will shock you, so it is crucial that you take part in the plastic-free challenge. Furthermore, some high end coffee shops have switched from plastic cups to cardboard or compostable takeout cups. However, several coffee shops use plastic products to serve their coffee.
Most of these products aren’t reusable, and they aren’t recycled after use. Hence, they damage the health of our environment. Additionally, if you didn’t know already, many coffee shops will offer a discount on your coffee if you bring your own reusable coffee cup. Thus, you make the planet a greener place and save some cash while you’re at it.
Plastic Free Produce
While you go grocery shopping, opt for fruits and vegetables that don’t have plastic packaging. You can also buy reusable grocery bags at a supermarket and take them anywhere you go shopping.
Most of these reusable bags are made of organic cotton and can decompose easily. Smaller stores and market stalls usually have plastic free products on sale. Hence, using plastic-free produce is one of the most effective ways to participate in the challenge.
Reusable Water Bottle
Instead of buying water bottles while out of the house, you can buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up at home. Non-reusable water bottles are classified as single use plastic, and they only contribute to plastic waste.
Employing a reusable water bottle reduces the number of plastic bottles you buy. Hence, you will reduce the amount of plastic waste you add to the ecosystem. The best reusable bottles can keep your drink warm or cold throughout the day, and there are several designs you can choose from. Find our best brand suggestions in our ultimate sustainable travel kit.
Reusable Straw
You can buy your own reusable straw and take it with you when you drink at a bar or restaurant. Reusable metal straws come in packs with a brush, which you can use to clean out your straws after you use them. If you’re offered a straw when you order a drink, you can reject it.
You can also ask them not to include a straw when ordering. If you’re concerned about carrying a metal straw in your hand every time, you can put it in your bag or pocket for when you need it. Additionally, you can buy a straw pouch to keep it neat and tidy.
There are lots of different ways you can make money on Depop. For example, if you’re into fashion, you could sell clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, and more. If you like interior design, you could sell furniture, lamps, rugs, kitchenware, and more. And if you’re into art, you could sell paintings, posters, sculptures, prints, and more.
Plastic Free Phone Accessories
Although it may be hard to believe, some brands produce phones and AirPod cases without plastic. There are several eco-friendly AirPod cases on the market. Hence, if you’re buying your next phone or AirPod case, you can research brands that use compostable materials to create their products. Additionally, it would be helpful if you purchased from brands that donate to ocean clean-up schemes and tree-planting organizations. Some brands are recycling things like old fishing nets and using them to create phone cases.
Conclusion: Make It Your Lifestyle
Although Plastic Free July is a one-month crusade, you don’t have to return to your old habits after the month is over. You can make this a challenge to your lifestyle and improve the quality of life on our planet. Hence, you can use the tips and tricks we’ve outlined as your guiding light while you make this transition. You can do more than improve our environment for a month; you can improve our planet all year.
